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Elemental composition of polyphosphate-containing vacuoles and cytoplasm of Leishmania major.

Publication ,  Journal Article
LeFurgey, A; Ingram, P; Blum, JJ
Published in: Mol Biochem Parasitol
April 1990

Leishmania major promastigotes contain electron-dense vacuoles. The elemental composition of these vacuoles and of the cytoplasm was measured by electron probe X-ray microanalysis, using rapid cryopreservation techniques to prevent alterations in composition due to diffusion. The electron-dense vacuoles are rich in P, presumably present as polyphosphate (poly P). Mg is present at about 9 times its cytoplasmic level. There is sufficient Mg to largely neutralize most of the negative charge of the Poly P. The electron-dense vacuoles also contain appreciable amounts of Ca and Zn, which are not detectable in the cytoplasm, as well as Na, K, and Cl, the latter two at concentrations below that of the cytoplasm. These results suggest that the vacuolar membranes have at least one cation transport system. Incubation of the promastigotes for 1 h in the absence of phosphate in the presence or absence of glucose did not cause significant changes in the vacuolar contents of P, Mg, or Zn, but changes in K and Cl content were observed in both the electron-dense vacuoles and in the cytoplasm.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Mol Biochem Parasitol

DOI

ISSN

0166-6851

Publication Date

April 1990

Volume

40

Issue

1

Start / End Page

77 / 86

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Zinc
  • Vacuoles
  • Sodium
  • Potassium
  • Polyphosphates
  • Phosphorus
  • Phosphates
  • Mycology & Parasitology
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Magnesium
 

Citation

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LeFurgey, A., Ingram, P., & Blum, J. J. (1990). Elemental composition of polyphosphate-containing vacuoles and cytoplasm of Leishmania major. Mol Biochem Parasitol, 40(1), 77–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/0166-6851(90)90081-v
LeFurgey, A., P. Ingram, and J. J. Blum. “Elemental composition of polyphosphate-containing vacuoles and cytoplasm of Leishmania major.Mol Biochem Parasitol 40, no. 1 (April 1990): 77–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/0166-6851(90)90081-v.
LeFurgey A, Ingram P, Blum JJ. Elemental composition of polyphosphate-containing vacuoles and cytoplasm of Leishmania major. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 1990 Apr;40(1):77–86.
LeFurgey, A., et al. “Elemental composition of polyphosphate-containing vacuoles and cytoplasm of Leishmania major.Mol Biochem Parasitol, vol. 40, no. 1, Apr. 1990, pp. 77–86. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/0166-6851(90)90081-v.
LeFurgey A, Ingram P, Blum JJ. Elemental composition of polyphosphate-containing vacuoles and cytoplasm of Leishmania major. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 1990 Apr;40(1):77–86.
Journal cover image

Published In

Mol Biochem Parasitol

DOI

ISSN

0166-6851

Publication Date

April 1990

Volume

40

Issue

1

Start / End Page

77 / 86

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Zinc
  • Vacuoles
  • Sodium
  • Potassium
  • Polyphosphates
  • Phosphorus
  • Phosphates
  • Mycology & Parasitology
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Magnesium